Staple-removing device

ABSTRACT

A device is provided for use in removing from a surface, a staple which has been affixed thereto. The device is of one-piece construction and includes a pair of elongated arms, each having one corresponding end thereof resiliently interconnected and the opposite corresponding end thereof free. A pair of complemental jaws are formed on the free ends of the arms. The arms are biased to assume a divergent position relative to the interconnected ends. Intermediate the ends of each arm, there is provided a guide means which protrudes therefrom towards the other arm. The distal portions of the guide means are interconnected and restrict the relative movement of the jaws to within a predetermined segment of a given circle.

Unite tates atet [1 1 Dahlia 1 Oct. 9, 1973 i 1 STAPLE-REMOVING DEVICE Primary Examiner-Otheii M. Simpson 75 I 2 Sta I D h m. Assistant Examiner-Robert C. Watson 1 mentor n ey a cage Attorney-Albert H. Pendleton et al. [73] Assignee: Swingline, Inc., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 243,219 A device is provided for use in removing from a surface, a staple which has been affixed thereto. The de- [52] U s CH 254/28 vice is of one-piece construction and includes a pair of [51] Km: "/00 elongated arms each having one corresponding end [58] Field 81/9 5 thereof resiliently interconnected and the opposite r E corresponding end thereof free. A pair of complemental jaws are formed on the free ends of the arms. The arms are biased to assume a divergent position relative [56] N g gi NTS to the interconnected ends. Intermediate the ends of U TE STAT TE each arm, there is provided a guide means which pro- 3 ,494,59l 2/1970 Fleming 254/28 n d therefrom towards the other arm. The distal 2,079,672 5/ 1937 n 254/28 portions of the guide means are interconnected and 2,549,260 4/1951 Sudbury restrict the relative movement of the j to within a predetermined segment of a given circle.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures STAPLE-REMOVING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various devices for removing staples and the like have heretofore been produced; however, because of certain design characteristics, they have been beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: a) they were formed of a number of component parts which rendered manufacture of said devices more difficult and thus more costly; b) proper alignment of the stapleextracting jaws was difficult to maintain and thus impaired the effectiveness of. the device in removing a staple from a surface to which it was affixed; and c) the devices were awkward to manipulate and oftentimes marred or defaced the surface from which the staple was removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a staple-removing device which is of simple one-piece construction and is capable of being produced on highspeed automatic equipment requiring a minimal amount of manual labor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a staple-removing device wherein the staple-removing jaws remain in proper alignment at all times and thus effectively and readily remove a staple without marring or defacing the surface to which the staple had been affixed.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device which is of compact, lightweight construction and is capable of withstanding repeated, and sometimes abusive, handling.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a staple-removing device which requires no assembly of various component and merely requires an initial squeezing together of the complemental jaws to effect automaticinterlocking of the guide means.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawing, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a staple-removing device is provided which is of one-piece construction and may be molded from a suitable plastic material (e.g., acetal homopolymers). The device includes a pair of elongated arms, each having one corresponding end thereof resiliently interconnected by a loop portion. The opposite end of each arm is free and has formed thereon a jaw. The arms are biased to assume a divergent position relative to the loop portion. Each arm also has formed thereon a guide means which is disposed intermediate the ends thereof. Each guide means protrudes from the arm in a direction towards the other arm. The outer or distal portions of the guide means are disposed in side-by-side interconnected relation. The interconnection of the guide means distal portions only permits relative movement of the jaws within a predetermined segment of a given circle.

DESCRIPTION For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the improved device shown in the position it assumes when removed from a mold or the like.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar to FIG. 1, but showing, respectively, the improved device in its biased divergent inoperative position and in its manually closed stapleextracting position; FIG. 3 also shows a staple being removed from a surface to which it had been previously affixed.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the improved device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the improved device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the improved device as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, one form of the improved one-piece staple-removing device 10 is shown. The device may be readily molded from a suitable plastic such as acetal homopolymers. The device 10, as seen in FIG. 1, is in the position A it assumes when removed from a mold.

The improved device 10 includes a pair of elongated arms 11 and 12, each of which has one corresponding end thereof interconnected by a resilient loop portion 13. The loop portion biases the arms so they assume a divergent position, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. As seen in the drawings, a chord-like rib 13 may be formed within the loop portion so as to reinforce the latter to prevent material fatigue regardless of the number of times the arms are moved towards one another to effect extraction of staples.

The free ends of the arms have formed thereon complemental jaws l4 and 15. Jaw 14 comprises a pair of spaced, substantially parallel flange sections 14a and 14b which protrude transversely from opposite sides of the arm 11 in a direction toward the other arm 12. Each jaw section is of like configuration and has a pointed distal end W and a uniformly curved underside X. As seen in FIG. 3, the ends W are adapted to be inserted between the crown K of a staple S and the surface Y to which the staple is affixed. The curved undersurface X of the jaw section permits the latter to slide smoothly over the surface Y when the device is manually manipulated into a staple-removing position B, as seen in FIG..3. v

' Jaw 15 is formed on arm 12 and includes a pair of spaced, substantially parallel flange sections 15a and 15b which extend transversely from the arm free end in a direction towards arm 11. The spacing between flange sections 15a and b is less than the spacing between flange sections 14a and b, so that flange sections 15a and b will slidably fit between sections 14a and b when the jaws are manually manipulated by fingertips F to the staple-removing position B, as seen in FIG- 3. Flange sections 15a and b have a shape similar to that of sections 14a and b, previously described.

The upper edges U of the jaw sections and band 15a and b are smoothly curved upwardly from the tips or pointed ends W of the jaw sections; and, thus, as the jaws are manually moved towards one another beneath the crown K of the affixed staple S, the crown will move upwardly along the edges U and be cammed vertically upwardly causing the staple to be readily withdrawn from the surface Y to which it had been previously af- To facilitate manual manipulation of the jaws into staple-removing position, each arm is provided with an exposed, laterally-extending shoulder portion 16. Each portion 16 is shaped so as to conveniently accommodate the fingertip F.

In order for the jaw sections of each jaw to remain in proper parallel relation and thus, prevent binding or jamming between the complemental jaws when the device is manually moved into staple-extracting position, a spacer flange 140 or 150 is provided which extends transversely between and interconnects the jaw sections, see FIG. 6. The spacer flanges 14c and 150 also provide reinforcement for the jaws. It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the flanges 14c and 15c are disposed in parallel, spaced relation and extend vertically so as not to interfere with the withdrawing of the device from the forming mold.

Intermediate the ends of arms 11 and 12 are transversely-extending guide means 17 and 18, respectively. Guide means 17 and 18 comprise pairs of spaced, substantially parallel flange sections l7a-17b and 18a-18b. Sections 14a and 17a are in coplanar relation, as is also the case with sections 14b and 17b. The same coplanar relations exist with la-l8a and b-18b. The coplanar sections merge with one another and thus, enhance the resistance of the arm 11 or 12 to bending when manual pressure is applied to remove a staple.

Each flange section 174 and b is provided with an elongated arcuate pocket 20 which may take the form of a slot. The center of curvature of the pocket is coincident to the center of curvature of the circular segment of travel traversed by the pointed ends W of the jaw flange sections when the jaws move relative to one another. The center of curvature of the undersurface X of the jaw sections is also coincident to the center of curvature of said pockets 20.

Each flange section 18a and b is provided with an outwardly-extending pintle 21 which is adapted to lockingly engage the adjacent pocket 20. The pintles 21 are sized so that they are capable of only sliding lengthwise of the pockets when the jaws are manipulated into and out of staple-extracting position.

The surface 2 of each pintle, which faces the arm 11,

is tapered rearwardly so that the base of each pintle is of greater area than the outer end surface thereof, see FIG. 1. The tapered surfaces function as cams when the arms are moved from the position A, shown in FIG. 1, to the position C, shown in FIG. 2. The respective flange sections 17a-18a and l7b-l8b will flex relative to one another when the arms are initially moved from position A, FIG. 1 to position C, FIG. 2. Because of the inherent resiliency of the flange sections, the pintles will automatically snap into interlocking relation with the pockets when the latter are in registration with the pintles. The extent to which each pintle projects from the section 18a or 18b, is approximately equal to the thickness of the respective flange section 17a or 17b.

The pintle and pocket assembly serves two important functions: a) it restricts the movement of the jaws to within a predetermined segment (e.g., approx. 26 in the illustrated embodiment) of a given circle; and b) it limits the relative positions of the jaws when they have been released and assume their outwardly biased inoperative position C, FIG. 2. In some instances the pintles may also limit the extent to which the jaws may move towards one another to withdraw the staple; however, this function is normally performed by the distal edge of the flange 18a and b abutting the inner surface of arm 11, see FIG. 3. Because of the sizing of the pintles and pockets, the curved undersurfaces X of the jaw sections 14a and b and 15a and b will always remain in a common circular path and will not become offset up or down relative to one another. This latter condition is a common occurrence in many prior art devices, and when such condition occurs, it materially interferes with the effectiveness of the device to remove a staple. Because the pair of guide sections 18a and b is disposed between the pair of guide sections and b and the outer surfaces of sections 18a and b are in sliding contact with the inner surfaces of sections 170 and b when the arms are moved relative to one another, lateral displacement of the jaws, relative to one another, is avoided.

While the pintles 21 are shown carried by sections 18a and b and the pockets 20 formed in sections 170 and b, the arrangement may be reversed, in which case the pintles would extend inwardly from the inner surfaces of sections 17a and b and the pockets 20 would be formed in sections 18a and b. Such a modified arrangement would function as effectively as in the illustrated embodiment.

In a second modified form of guide means, not shown, the pair of sections and b could be substituted by a single centrally-disposed flange having a pintle formed on the outer distal end thereof. The single flange would be slidably disposed between the pair of closely spaced, substantially parallel sections 170 and b. In this latter situation, the spacing between 17a and b would be such that the opposite surfaces of the single flange section would be in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of sections 17a and b.

Thus, it will be seen that an improved stapleremoving device has been provided which is of simple, inexpensive, compact, yet sturdy construction and is provided with guide means permitting the stapleremoving jaws to only move relative to one another within a predetermined segment of a given circle and thus, greatly facilitate the removal of a staple from a surface to which it is affixed without marring or defacing the surface.

I claim:

1. A device for removing from a surface a staple affixed thereto, said device being of one-piece construction and comprising a pair of elongated arms, one corresponding end of each arm being interconnected, the other corresponding end of each arm being free, said arms being biased to assume a divergent position relative to said interconnected ends; complemental jaws disposed at the free ends of said arms, said jaws being manually movable towards one another about the interconnected arm ends as an axis to effect extraction of the staple from the surface; and guide means disposed on each arm intermediate the ends thereof and protruding therefrom towards the other arm, both guide means having distal portions thereof slidably interconnected to one another for restraining lateral displacement of said jaws and, said guide means further defining means for restricting relative movement thereof to within a predetermined segment of a given circle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the guide means on one arm includes a male component, and the guide means on the other arm includes a female component.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said female component comprises an elongated arcuate pocket, the center of curvature of which is coincident to the center of curvature of said given circle.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each guide means comprises at least one flange extending towards the other arm, portions of said flanges being in slidable side-by-side relation, the portion of one flange being provided with a pintle, and the portion of the other flange being provided with an elongated arcuate pocket in which said pintle is slidably accommodated to move only length-wise of said pocket, the center of curvature of said pocket being coincident to the center of curvature of said given circle; said pintle, when disposed at one end of said arcuate pocket, limiting the divergency to which said arms can be biased.

5. The device of claim I wherein the free end of each arm is provided with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel jaw elements, the jaws of said arms extending toward one another whereby one pair of jaw elements is slidably disposed between the other pair of jaw elements when said arms are manually moved towards one another to effect extraction of a staple.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the guide means of each arm comprises a pair of spaced, substantially parallel flanges, said flanges extending toward one another whereby one pair of flanges is slidably disposed between the second pair of flanges; pintles carried by one of the pairs of flanges and elongated arcuate pockets formed in the other pair of flanges, said pintles being continuously disposed within said pockets and being slidable only lengthwise thereof so as to limit the divergency to which said arms can be biased.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the side of each pintle disposed adjacent the arm carrying the flanges with the arcuate pockets formed therein, being a tapered cam surface so that the base of the pintle has a greater area than that of the outer end thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the corresponding one ends of said arms are interconnected by a resilient loop portion, and each arm is provided with an exposed shoulder section disposed adjacent the free end thereof for accommodating a finger when said arms are manually moved-toward one another from said divergent position.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the jaw elements of each pair are provided with pointed ends and said elements are retained in spaced parallel relation by a transversely extending spacer flange interconnecting the elements of a pair; said spacer flange having an edge thereof spaced from the pointed ends of said pair of jaws.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one pair of said guide means flanges are resiliently flexible laterally whereby upon the pairs of flanges being manually moved initially towards one another, the pintle cam surfaces slidably engage the corresponding flanges having pockets formed therein and laterally flex one pair of flanges until said pintles and pockets are in aligned registered relation whereupon said pintles automatically extend into and interlock with said pockets.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,764,108 Dated October '19, 1973 lnventofls) Stanley V. Dahlin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 3?, "component" should be components Column 5, line '13, (claim 5) "jaws" should be jaw elements Signed land sealed this 19th day of March 197L (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents F ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) 

1. A device for removing from a surface a staple affixed thereto, said device being of one-piece construction and comprising a pair of elongated arms, one corresponding end of each arm being interconnected, the other corresponding end of each arm being free, said arms being biased to assume a divergent position relative to said interconnected ends; complemental jaws disposed at the free ends of said arms, said jaws being manually movable towards one another about the interconnected arm ends as an axis to effect extraction of the staple from the surface; and guide means disposed on each arm intermediate the ends thereof and protruding therefrom towards the other arm, both guide means having distal portions thereof slidably interconnected to one another for restraining lateral displacement of said jaws and, said guide means further defining means for restricting relative movement thereof to within a predetermined segment of a given circle.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the guide means on one arm includes a male component, and the guide means on the other arm includes a female component.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said female component comprises an elongated arcuate pocket, the center of curvature of which is coincident to the center of curvature of said given circle.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein each guide means comprises at least one flange extending towards the other arm, portions of said flanges being in slidable side-by-side relation, the portion of one flange being provided with a pintle, and the portion of the other flange being provided with an elongated arcuate pocket in which said pintle is slidably accommodated to move only length-wise of said pocket, the center of curvature of said pocket being coincident to the center of curvature of said given circle; said pintle, when disposed at one end of said arcuate pocket, limiting the divergency to which said arms can be biased.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the free end of each arm is provided with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel jaw elements, the jaws of said arms extending toward one another whereby one pair of jaw elements is slidably disposed between the other pair of jaw elements when said arms are manually moved towards one another to effect extraction of a staple.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the guide means of each arm comprises a pair of spaced, substantially parallel flanges, said flanges extending toward one another whereby one pair of flanges is slidably disposed between the second pair of flanges; pIntles carried by one of the pairs of flanges and elongated arcuate pockets formed in the other pair of flanges, said pintles being continuously disposed within said pockets and being slidable only lengthwise thereof so as to limit the divergency to which said arms can be biased.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the side of each pintle disposed adjacent the arm carrying the flanges with the arcuate pockets formed therein, being a tapered cam surface so that the base of the pintle has a greater area than that of the outer end thereof.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the corresponding one ends of said arms are interconnected by a resilient loop portion, and each arm is provided with an exposed shoulder section disposed adjacent the free end thereof for accommodating a finger when said arms are manually moved toward one another from said divergent position.
 9. The device of claim 5 wherein the jaw elements of each pair are provided with pointed ends and said elements are retained in spaced parallel relation by a transversely extending spacer flange interconnecting the elements of a pair; said spacer flange having an edge thereof spaced from the pointed ends of said pair of jaws.
 10. The device of claim 7 wherein at least one pair of said guide means flanges are resiliently flexible laterally whereby upon the pairs of flanges being manually moved initially towards one another, the pintle cam surfaces slidably engage the corresponding flanges having pockets formed therein and laterally flex one pair of flanges until said pintles and pockets are in aligned registered relation whereupon said pintles automatically extend into and interlock with said pockets. 